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Review of George Barna, Transforming Children

into Spiritual Champions


Noel B. Woodbridge

Barna G 2003. Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions.


Ventura: Regal Books.

1. Introduction to the Author and the Book

George Barna is the directing leader of The Barna Group, a company in


Ventura, California, that provides research and resources to Christian
ministries. He is the best-selling author of more than thirty five books,
several of which have received national awards. His other books
include Think Like Jesus, The Power of Vision, and The Frog in the
Kettle. Barna also publishes The Barna Update, a free bi-weekly
research report available online at www.barna.org. He and his family
live in Southern California.

No one can deny that modern culture is opposed to Christian values.


The adverse influences that bombard the moral development of children
today can be deadly. However, few parents and church leaders fully
realise just how critical it is to initiate the development the child’s
biblical worldview, from an early age. The problem is complex,
especially in light of the common circumstance of parents themselves
not having received adequate (early) spiritual training. As a result, they
often seem to leave their children’s training and development solely to
the church. Yet, the church generally focuses on older children, not
realising that a child’s moral development is set by the age of nine.

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2. Summary of the Book

This book deals with one of the major problems faced by today’s
church: how can the church (and parents) help children cultivate a
biblical worldview? In the simplest terms, cultivating a biblical
worldview means learning to think and act like Jesus. But how can the
church, that is, its members (including parents), teach children
something their own parents didn’t know how to teach them?

According to Barna (back cover), the answer is the following:

Churches must begin now to come alongside parents and equip


them to provide their children – at the earliest age possible – with
biblical precepts that will protect them from a barrage of worldly
ideas and teaching that is hostile to the biblical worldview.
Churches must also think in terms of providing parents with
information and counseling that will equip parents to help their
children become the spiritually mature Church of tomorrow.

Barna emphasizes that the time has come to wage a spiritual war—time
to equip parents to help their children become the spiritually mature
Church of tomorrow, literally transforming them into spiritual
champions!

The book is divided into eight chapters.

1. The state of American children. In this first chapter, Barna uses four
dimensions to describe the state and well-being of the American
children, namely, intellectual, health / physical, economic, and
emotional / behavioural.

2. The spiritual health of our children. This chapter deals with the
following questions: Are all our decisions spiritually based? Do our

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children really understand spiritual truths? What has the church have to
do with it? Are we missing the mark?

3. Why kids matter. Here, Barna motivates why children matter. They
matter, because: Children matter to God; Children matter to you and
me; Children matter on the battlefront.

4. What kids need. Human development is a complex mixture of growth


in five core areas: the moral, spiritual, physical, emotional, and
intellectual dimensions of life. The basis of each of these is one’s
spiritual foundation. For example, a person’s moral foundation is either
based on Christian spirituality and God’s Word, or, it is based on
worldly perspectives. Our lives are played out on a battlefield. There
are a variety of agents of influence that try to persuade us to adopt one
particular approach to life over another. In this regard, children need
our help with four p’s: purpose, perspective, provision and
performance.

5. Taking on appropriate responsibility. After dealing with the problem


of the compliant church—the unbiblical and unhealthy dependence of
families on the church for spiritually nurturing children—Barna
clarifies the biblical responsibility of the family. The chapter describes
the correct ways for a family to raise spiritual champions, and specifies
the support that is available from the church.

6. How churches help to raise spiritual champions. This chapter


examines how the church can be most effective in aiding parents in
fulfilling their God-given responsibility to raise spiritual champions. It
covers various perspectives on children’s ministry, methods, and
techniques that facilitate impact, curriculum content, and the people that
help to make it happen.

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Woodbridge, ‘Review of Transforming Children Into Spiritual Champions’

7. Better performance through evaluation. In this chapter, Barna


describes how parents can raise spiritual champions through the
judicious use of continual evaluations relating to how well each child is
developing spiritually. He answers the following questions: how do I
measure progress? How do I know for sure that my child is a Christian?

8. It's time to produce some spiritual champions. This chapter serves as


a motivation for timely action in children’s ministry. Barna ends this
final chapter with the advisory: ‘May your household provide a
nurturing environment of faith, love and spiritual growth so that the
emerging generation of America’s children will be all that their creator
intends them to be’ (137).

3. Strengths of the Book

3.1. It calls upon the Church to make children’s ministry a priority

This is an excellent book that challenges and encourages parents and


churches to partner together to mentor children from the earliest years
of their lives. Barna admits that, for years, his own focus (and the focus
of churches in general) has been on adults, despite the fact that eighty
percent of those accepting Jesus as their Saviour, are below the age of
thirteen years. In light of this, he appeals to churches to rethink their
ministry priorities.

Many people who trust Jesus as their Saviour do so before the age
of 15. Driven by this reality, George Barna invites us to the greatest
harvest filed of all time – children. In Transforming Children into
Spiritual Champions, he boldly and faithfully calls on churches to
seize the opportunity to impact their communities – starting with
the children (Jack D. Eggar29).

29
President and CEO, Awana Clubs International.

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Woodbridge, ‘Review of Transforming Children Into Spiritual Champions’

In Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions, George Barna


reveals how we can be a vital part of the single most strategic
ministry in God’s kingdom, and in the process revolutionize life
and faith in America. Without question every pastor must read this
book (Steve Russo30).

3.2. It helps the Church to fulfil its role in mentoring parents

Jim Burns31 articulates this point well:

The role of the church is to spiritually mentor parents; the role of


the parent is to spiritually mentor the children; the legacy of faith
continues from generation to generation. The theme of
Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions is as old as the
philosophy in the book of Deuteronomy and as fresh as today’s
newspaper. George Barna blends his incredible ability to research
modern culture with his own passion to energize the spiritual life of
children. It is a great book.

3.3. It is research-based and provides practical specifics on how to


reach children more effectively

Barna is known for writing books based on superb research, and this
book is no exception. Drawing from several national studies conducted
among children, as well as others conducted among families and church
pastors, this book challenges Christians to re-think their own
assumptions and behaviour regarding the importance of ministry to
children. Not only does the book give useful insights into the question,
why focusing on substantive ministry to children is so critical, but it
also offers some eye-opening information in the same, and provides
30
Evangelist; author, The seduction of our children.
31
President, Youthbuilders.

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Woodbridge, ‘Review of Transforming Children Into Spiritual Champions’

guidance on reaching children more effectively. The last few chapters


outline what churches can do to facilitate parents being more effective
in transforming children, and how churches can assist parents, rather
than replace them.

America’s expert number cruncher [George Barna] has analysed


the data and translated it into the most relevant work yet. Barna
makes a compelling case that our hope for the future lies in our
ability to help young people experience spiritual transformation
(Tommy Barnett32).

4. Weaknesses of the Book

4.1. The statistical data is rather sparse and it makes debatable


conclusions

Although many applaud Barna for writing a book based on superb


research, it may be argued that the statistical data is actually rather
sparse. It may be argued further that the book serves largely as a forum
for Barna to sermonize about ministering to children. Although Barna
provides many valuable principles on children’s ministry, his
background suggests that he usually specialises in objective analytical
research. However, this book does not appear to be a statistical analysis
of the state of contemporary church ministries to children. In fact, only
a few statistics are mentioned (and even repeated) throughout the book.

Barna has a reputation as a researcher, yet, he bases many of his


conclusions on his thoughts and feelings as a father of young children,
and not necessarily on solid research. And when he does reference the
research, he makes ambitious logical leaps, by reaching debatable and
32
Pastor, Phoenix First Assembly of God.

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Woodbridge, ‘Review of Transforming Children Into Spiritual Champions’

sweeping conclusions. In addition, the charts presented in the book are


not always adequately explained, leaving one longing for more
thorough elucidation of them.

4.2. The claim that children’s ministry should be the primary focus
of the Church

The sub-title of the book is what the book is essentially about, namely,
why children should be your church's # 1 priority. Although the
sentiment that the churches should make ministry to children one of the
primary focal points is something worth articulating, it is rather over
emphasised by Barna. To suggest that children's ministries should be
elevated above all others seems rather dramatic, a suggestion that is
simply not well vindicated in the book.

4.3. Lacks details on what specific churches have done

Although Barna’s general description of what effective churches are


doing is compelling, possibly causing pastors who read the book to
consider the various strategies presented, it non-the-less lacks useful
detail. The accounts of successful implementations of children’s
ministry strategies by churches are unfortunately presented in general
platitudes. It may be difficult to disagree with such generalities, but
conversely, it is also less instructive to the reader.

5. Conclusion

Despite its shortcomings, Barna's book presents a timely challenge and


welcome corrective to church leaders to embrace the importance of
children’s ministry. His insightful commentary, statistical analysis, and

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Woodbridge, ‘Review of Transforming Children Into Spiritual Champions’

vision for success, are inspiring, providing great direction for children's
ministry in churches.

In some ways, it is a disturbing book - the spiritual state of children, as


described, is frightening. However, it is a very helpful, practical, and
necessary book. Every parent and pastor should read it.

Reference List

Amazon.com 2011. Online book reviews: http://www.amazon.com/


Transforming-Children-Into-Spiritual-Champions/dp/08307329
34, 2011-03-24.
Barna G 2003. Transforming children into spiritual champions.
Ventura: Regal books.

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